The original 1994 release of Live A Live is still a stunning and creative take on the RPG tropes of its time. It stands out primarily because it is about several loosely connected stories at different historical points. The 2022 remake of the game not only improves the visuals but maintains the incredible creativity of the original, showing just how well it has aged. The game’s Near Future chapter is often overlooked by fans but is one of the most brilliant experiences in the genre.
Live A Live’s Classic Media Influences
Each chapter in Live A Live represents a different genre of story- From the pro-wrestling and Street Fighter-inspired Present-Day chapter to the Distant Future’s take on Alien and 2001 A Space Odyssey. The Near Future Chapter wears its influences proudly: It is all about paying tribute to classic mecha anime and tokusatsu series, with an emphasis on those that involve delinquent and anti-authoritarian protagonists. Classic anime like Getter Robo and Mazinger Z form a baseline for what this chapter entails.
The influences become clear immediately after the chapter’s introduction when its anime-style opening plays, clearly taking inspiration from Mazinger Z’s opening. The legendary singer who worked on Dragon Ball Z and later versions of Getter Robo, Hironobu Kageyama, provides the perfect tone to start this chapter’s tale.
“Go Go Steel Titan” (or “Go Go Buriki Daioh” if you prefer the Japanese version) is filled with incredible love for all the shows that inspired it, and this can be felt throughout the entire chapter as we follow the teenage delinquent Akira’s journey to awaken a giant robot that will decimate the corrupt government.
Clever Uses of Foreshadowing
Live A Live‘s Near Future Chapter begins with ideas that set a fun and sometimes silly tone. After the introduction where you’re introduced to a man Akira admires, Lawless, and the aforementioned opening plays, the player is introduced to the orphanage where Akira lives.
His sickly younger sister’s pet turtle Taroimo is on the verge of death, so Akira decides to take the reptile to his scientist friend, Dr. Toei. Toei uses a process called Liquefaction to turn the Taroimo into a liquid that can power a robot body. This saves Taroimo’s life and he becomes a companion that helps Akira in battle. This goofy mascot sets a lighthearted tone to start off the story.
Later in the chapter, however, we find out that liquefaction is a far more serious subject than expected. Dr. Toei is a wacky scatter-brained scientist, but his past is much darker than the player would likely imagine. Toei once worked for the evil Dr. Livingstill and helped develop Liquefaction technology.
Livingstill’s goal is to work with the government and a cult to bring the statue of a giant bird god named Odeo to life, powered by humans forcibly put through Liquefaction. What the player initially believed to be a cute gag about a turtle is now an existential horror, in which countless human lives are sacrificed so that their hatred may bring a monstrous god to life.
Love, Hate, and Responsibility
Every chapter in Live A Live depicts characters who either embrace or struggle with the concepts of hatred and love. The Near Future chapter embodies this with a complex web of relationships. The most impotent example is Akira’s relationship with Lawless, who may be an older brother figure to Akira that he admires, but is secretly the one who killed Akira’s father and left him an orphan. Lawless does everything he can to atone for his sin, ending with him dying from a drug overdose to gain the psychic powers necessary to command the Steel Titan.
Despite the reveal of his past crime, Akira takes to heart Lawless’s final message. Lawless has a firm belief in a quality of manliness, which is represented not by typical macho stereotypes but rather by taking responsibility for his actions. It is through this message that Akira can take up the mantle following Lawless’s death and command the Steel Titan himself. His love for all those he cares for: Lawless, his sister, Toei, and everyone at the orphanage- allows him to take on this responsibility and defeat Odeo.
Live A Live is a Subversive Masterpiece
Live A Live is never content to follow popular trends. Its entire format of selecting different chapters is unique in its own right and it loves setting up ideas to subvert. The Near Future chapter is a perfect example of this.
It presents what looks to be a fun Super Robot homage, before turning the tables on what you thought you knew. It does all of this while perfectly conveying Live A Live‘s themes in its unique way. This is why Near Future can be called the best chapter.
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